[mannanj]

For me the problem is simple: we are in an active prisoner's dilemma with AI adoption where the outcome is worse collectively by not asking the right questions for optimal human results, we are defecting and using ai selfishly because we are rewarded by it. There's lots of potential for our use to be turned against us as we train these models for companies that have no commitment to give to the common good or return money to us or to common welfare if our jobs are disrupted and an AI replaces us fully.

[joquarky]

For some of us, our jobs have already been completely disrupted by other factors (e.g., ageism) so there is nothing to lose here after 2 years and 2400+ job applications with nothing to show for it.

Clearly society wants me to strike out on my own; and that has been facilitated by the rise of agentic coding.

If you've not been paying attention to the news, caring for the common good/welfare is now obsolete and self destructive. We are in survival mode. It's everyone for themselves now.

[mannanj]

Ah yes I hear that - I am hearing you share that it has felt society neglected and even discriminated actively against you. I am so sorry and can feel your pain.

One push back I have for you is to inquire about what "society" really means here for you and if its really society thats doing this for/to you or some other force or influence.

IMO it's a selective class of a few who drive things and hold exhorbant influence, the unaccountable leadership class I'll call them. It is they who fund and hold accountable the news organizations to drive their agendas, in a real-life conspiracy scenario it is actively as you say and I feel the constricting onto my own livelihood too as you say. On the other hand I don't believe ever the maxim you said of "everyone for themselves" as that's never true and never really has been. I think part of the messaging and programming of the unaccountable leadership class that they use the "news" to reinforce is this sense of powerlessness and disconnection, isolation from others. It's like we haven't been taught on how to organize and support each other and were made reliant on those systems outside us that they once let give us enough to survive. Now as they are reeling back those support systems we are back to what it always was: organizing with our communities, with strangers online and finding kindness and hope enough to organize ways of living that support us all. Not the select few.

I guess thats my way of saying even if we are defecting against each other to survive, we would do well to never forget what our greater intention and purpose is: to help each other ultimately and not these few rich actors who own the companies.